Recently we ate at Napoli in Italy ( Mama Melrose better). Our waiter Roberto was very nice and all but what happened at end is weird. When it came time to pay our bill I handed him my Tables in Wonderland card which INCLUSES tip on your check.It came to like $92 and I handed him 100. He asked if I wanted change and said yes. I figured what the hell 18% already included. He came back and asked if the service was satisfactory? I think he didnt know tip was included. I told him yes thank you. He had quizicle look on his face. I was not about to explain the card to him because he spoke btroken english. He then asked" when you go out could you tell my manager that Roberto was good?" Never had that request before. Anyway I did not see his manager nor would I have said anything anyway. Any one else encounter Roberto?
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Anyone else encounter Roberto?
- Thread starter Iteachwood
- Start date
wilkeliza
Well-Known Member
I have not encountered Reoberto but I had a similar awkward experience at Napoli. We had a waitress can't remember her name and she was very adamant in letting us know that tip was not included in the prices or in the DDP. I was okay with the first mention (although guest services let us know this when they gave us our KTTWK and we knew it from reading online) but after it was mentioned 3 or 4 times it bordered the line of being rude. She also explained several times that I chose something that would cost 2.50 more. I finally told her I understood her the first time.
I wonder if the tipping has anything to do with the fact that in European countries tipping is not customary like it is here and the idea of a tip is new to them. Maybe if they don't see cash on the table or the write in on the CC slip they don't realize they were tipped. It also might have something to do with the fact they probably get horrible tips or no tips at all not just from DDP but from patrons in general. We always tip (typically 20 to 25 percent and never less than 15) but I see a lot of people on vacation (and in general) who don't think they need to tip. I don't think people realize restaurant, coffee shop, and service professions in general tend to live off their tips. We aren't required to get minimum wage off bat so we have to work for good tips to live.
I wonder if the tipping has anything to do with the fact that in European countries tipping is not customary like it is here and the idea of a tip is new to them. Maybe if they don't see cash on the table or the write in on the CC slip they don't realize they were tipped. It also might have something to do with the fact they probably get horrible tips or no tips at all not just from DDP but from patrons in general. We always tip (typically 20 to 25 percent and never less than 15) but I see a lot of people on vacation (and in general) who don't think they need to tip. I don't think people realize restaurant, coffee shop, and service professions in general tend to live off their tips. We aren't required to get minimum wage off bat so we have to work for good tips to live.
SleepingMonk
Well-Known Member
The kid is in a new country, new language, new customs, etc...
I'm sure he was just trying to do a good job at something very different for him.
No need to bust his hump over it, and telling the manager the wait staff did well is no real burden to you.
I'm sure he was just trying to do a good job at something very different for him.
No need to bust his hump over it, and telling the manager the wait staff did well is no real burden to you.
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
Just a note: TiW calculates the 18% tip based on the discounted price. It is customary to tip off of the pre-coupon, pre-discount price. I don't think this is why Roberto acted weird, but every TiW member I've talked to was unaware that it was 18% of the discounted price so I try to spread the word. I was a little upset that I had been getting great service for a trip and a half and had been giving a 14.4% tip based on the menu prices all that time.
I'm not sure what happened with Roberto, but I do think there must be a bit of culture shock for a lot of international CM's coming over. I have eaten at Via Napoli twice and had excellent service both times, so it's not everyone there.
I'm not sure what happened with Roberto, but I do think there must be a bit of culture shock for a lot of international CM's coming over. I have eaten at Via Napoli twice and had excellent service both times, so it's not everyone there.
Zummi Gummi
Pioneering the Universe Within!
I think that's a huge part of it. I always play dumb when I use my TiW card and say, "gratuity is already added in, right?" even though I know it is. Then I'll leave a couple of additional dollars to make it an even 20%.
oommggitskait
Active Member
I actually had him on Tuesday for lunch and thought he was excellent. One of the best we had all trip. We don't have a TiW card, so we obviously didn't run into the same problem.
It sounds like maybe he was just confused. I wouldn't take it personally.
It sounds like maybe he was just confused. I wouldn't take it personally.
Zummi Gummi
Pioneering the Universe Within!
I thought so! I always read over the bill carefully, and when I read the post above, was wondering if I had been making some egregious error all these years.
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
Yeah.... I swear we did the math carefully when splitting up a check with my family in January, but I just found a receipt and it does take the 18% tip before the discount. My bad.
Zummi Gummi
Pioneering the Universe Within!
No worries!
Like I said, I'm just happy I wasn't making an error and under-tipping all this time!
disneyrcks
Well-Known Member
I have not encountered Roberto but I had a bit of similar experience. Our server that was there when they first opened was amazing and we loved him. Our second server there (8 months later) was great but made a point of telling us that tip was NOT included. I do not find that offensive at all.....they wanted to make sure the consumer knows that a tip is due.
I find it ironic that your server spoke "btroken English", and you put "btroken english" in your post. Maybe you should learn english, grammar and punctuation before you rag on people that may have different customs?
Why would you not give a good word to a manager for some kid who is working hard and is very far from home? I find your behavior more strange than his :shrug:
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
That's why they add the tip in, because most people would be basing it on the discounted price and that wouldn't be fair to the server.
Obi
Well-Known Member
while i will agree that it's odd to be asking for a compliment, he does sound like he's from a different country and may not fully understand the customs over here in the states.
now, with that said, i have gone out of my way to get a manager to tell him/her that my service was great. grant it, it wasn't from my waiter/waitress asking me to or the manager coming over.
the last time i did this was a few months ago... had a tragic ending to the story, but i did seek out the manager and told him how great our service was and to let his staff know they did a great job....
i also plan on, while i'm on my trip to wdw here in a few weeks, taking down the names, and pics if possible, of the cm's that do a great job so that after i get back i will send an email to the powers that be, along with the pics of the cm's, to let them know that they did a great job....
my feeling is that people have NO PROBLEM going to complain, which they should if they have a legitimate complaint, but it's very rare that they will give a compliment... these people work hard to provide a magical time for us.. i plan on returning the favor to show that their hard work is very much appreciated.
MysticOrient
Member
Can someone explain the real benefit of TiW?
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
You would be paying that gratuity whether your meal was discounted or not. The best way to look at it is to see the bill and gratuity separately. If your bill was 100 dollars the gratuity is 18. Without TiW you would be spending 118 but with the 20% discount that bill comes to 80 and now your total is 98.
Eldon_Brasche
Member
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
Sorry, this is the bash a CM thread. You're looking for the Q&A threads section.
DrummerAlly
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
Most people tip 18-20%, so you're still getting 20% off of your bill.
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry if this is a bit off topic here, but I need your expertise / advice.
We're heading down to WDW in 10 days (yaay!) and have the DDP but are also thinking of getting TiW to leverage both (as many have suggested). So here's where I'm a bit confused:
TiW gives you 20% off dining at most places
TiW then adds an 18% gratuity
So how is this a good deal? To me, now I'm only getting 2% off my meal price?
Any information you can provide is much appreciated! Thanks!
Judy
Who suggests getting both a TiW and the DDP? One does not leverage the other, in fact one hurts the other.
The TiW card is $100 ($75 if you are a passholder) and gives you %20 off of most table service dining and drinking (not all)
That means, in order to make it worth it you need to purchase $500 ($275 for passholders) of food and drinks that get you a discount.
That is not hard to do if you have a family of 3 or 4 and are staying a number of days and eat table service quite often.
However if you have DDP, one table service meal a day is already paid for and you will not get any sort of discount on it (anything you add for cash will of course be discounted). If you are going to eat that much extas, then by all means get the TiW, but just be aware of how much you need to spend to make it worth it.
It was already explained to you how it saves you money even with the included tip.
-dave
durangojim
Well-Known Member
I'm glad you brought this up. We had a similar experience as you with Roberto, but instead of him asking if we would go tell his manager he was good, he tried to lean down and kiss my wife. Or maybe I'm just remembering the scene in National Lampoons European Vacation where the Griwolds are having lunch in Paris. :shrug: